Spraying-machine.



C. A.- WICKSTROM.

SPRAYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED nov.20. 191s.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

C. A. WICKSTROM.

SPRAYING MACHINE. APPLICATION man NOV. 20. 1916.

11. 2'?6,466 Patented Aug. 20, 1918 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

% TE TQ.

CHARLES A. WICKSTROM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRICCOMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPRAYING-MACHINE.

intense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

Application filed November 20, 1916. Serial No. 132,363.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. WVIGK- STROM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new.

and useful Improvements in Spraying-Machines, of which the following isa full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates tospraying machines, and more particularly to amachine of this kind in which the spraying fumes are confined and theoperation of the spray is automatically controlled.

In applying finishing fluids, such as lacquer, varnish, etc.,to articlesthe pneumatic brush has practically displaced the hair brush, and thisis especially so when small, irregularly shaped articles are to becoated. The use of the pneumatic spray for this purpose introducesseveral serious disadvantages, and it is the purpose of this inventionto overcome these objections.

One of the objects of this invention is to produce a spraying machine inwhich means are provided to thoroughly cover the article with thespraying fluid in which the spraying means is held in a fixed position.

Another object consists in means toautomatically control the sprayingtime interval so as to insure the thorough and uniform coating of thearticle and likewise prevent useless or excessive application of thespraying fluid with the attendant loss of said fluid.

A further object consists in improved means for controlling the sprayingfumes so as to prevent their dissipation in the room atmosphere.

These and other objects will become apparent from the followingdescription and the appended claims.

The invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan elevation of the spraying machine;

Fig. 2 15 a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

panying drawings has been adapted to the spraying of the top face of thecoils of telephone receivers. The top surface of these coils 1sirregular, due to the protruding pole pieces of the cores, andconsequently presents an exceedingly delicate spraying operation sincethe surface has to be completely covered with a very thin, uniformcoating of lacquer. It will be evident to those skilled in the art,however, that the invention may be readily adapted to the spraying ofany and all kinds of articles in which a uniform coating is desired andin which it is essential to avoid the dissipation of the spraying fumesin the room atmosphere.

As illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus consists of a top plate 10which is suitably mounted in the top surface of any support or benchsuch as 11. The top plate 10 is equipped near its middle portion with acircular opening from which depends the circular bearing 12. Fitted inthis circular bearing 12 is a circular cylinder 13, to the lower end ofwhich is secured by means of the screws 14 and 15 the annular gear 16.The annular gear 16 meshes with the gear wheel 17 which is secured tothe shaft 18 journaled in the bearing 19 and to the other end of whichis attached the reducing gear 20. The bearing 19 is secured to the topplate 10 by means of brackets such as 21. Meshing with the gear 20 isthe gear 21 which is directly connected to any suitable sort of drivesuch as the motor 25. Diametrically opposed to the gear wheel 17 is thegear wheel 26 which meshes with the annular gear 16. The gear 26 issecured to the shaft 27 which is journaled in the bearings 28 and 29 andwhich carries the worm 30. The worm 3O meshes with the worm wheel 31which is journaled on the shaft 32, said shaft being mounted between thetop plate 10 and the lower face 33 of a supporting bracket 34 by meansof the nuts Soand 36. The supporting bracket 3i is fitted at the forwardend of the horizontal base 33 with an upwardly extending wall 37. andplaced on top of said wall 37 and on a shoulder on the inner surface ofthe vertical member of the supporting bracket 34 is a metallic cover 38which incloses the worm and worm wheel. The lower surface of the cup orina closure formed by these walls is filled with The upper face of theWorm Wheel 31 is provided "with an annular set of teeth e whichconstitutes one face of a clutch that cooperates with the teeth ilmounted on the movable member l2 of said clutch, movably mounted on theshaft 32. The two sets of teeth ll) and ll of this clutch are normallyheld out of contact by the spiral spring ltigidly secured to theslidable member a2 is the cam This cam, as illustrated in Fig. 1,consists of a circular disk Which is fitted With a projection $6 and theannular cam surface l? which is provided with a depression at 4-8. A camroller 50 rides on the cam surface l8 as the cam is rotated about theshaft 32. The roller is secured to the bell cranlr 51 by neans of thescrew 52. The bell cranlr bl is pivoted at 53 and serves to depress theroller 50 onto the cam surface 47 by means of a spiral spring 55 whichencircles the rod 56 attached to the loWer end of the arm 57 of the bellcranlr. The spring 55 is compressed between the vertical Wall of thesupporting bracket and the end nuts as on the pin 56.

Mounted beneath the lower surface of the cam 45 is the valve operatingbutton 60, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which is associated with a valveconnected in the air supply line 61 secured to the top face 10 by meansof the brackets 62. Secured to the air supply pipe is the spray nozzle68 Which is also connected to either a spray pot or a reservoir tanlr inwhich is contained the spraying lacquer. Tl e spraying nozzle 63 ismounted outside of the lower Wall of thecasing or receptacle whichincloses the spraying apparatus and is pointed so as to be inclinedsubstantially twenty degrees to the vertical. In this position thespraying nozzle is mounted directly in front of an opening 65 in thelower inclosing Wall, as illustrated in Fig. 5. /Vhen the sprayingnozzle is thus lined the projected spray is directed so that it will hitthe coils of the receiver, that are to be lacquered, at an angle, and ata point near the periphery of the surface which is to be lacquered. Thespray from the nozzle Will be carried through the conical shaped member66 which is secured to the receiver mounting templet 67 by the. mountingpiece 66. The receiver mounting templet 6'? is provided With a flange 69which is securely fitted in the inner periphery of the revolving member13. The conical shaped member 66 has an opening at its tapered end Whichis substantially equal in area to the area of the surface Which is to belacquered. The receiver 70, the coils 71 of which are to be lacquered,is placed in an annular depression in the mounting piece 67 and thusserves to close the opening in the conical member 66 and therebyprevents the escape of the fumes through this opening into the roomatmosphere. l non-ever it is desired fitted over the opening during eachspraying 1:

operation.

For the purpose of carrying the articles which are to be sprayed to theoperator a conveyer, such. as illustrated in Fig. 1, may

be used. This conveyor preferably consists of a plurality of plates suchas 75, on each one of which a receiver such as may be placed. Theseplates are fitted With a Wheel 77, as shovvn in Fig. 3, which runs on atraclr Y6. The plates are drawn by means of an endless chain 79 whichmay be driven by any ivell lrnovv'n means. Any suitable type of conveyormay be utilized and When such a conveyor is used the carrying platesshould be attached to the chain in such a manner that the articles, suchas the receivers 70 which are to be coated, Will be delivered to theoperator at regular intervals, the time intervening between eachinterval being of sufficient duration to permit of the complete sprayingof the article, its removal from the templet, and the placing; ofanother article on said templet. When the apparatus is equipped withsuch a conveyer the carrying plates 75 are fitted with projectingmembers, such as the pin 60, which will move in the path of theprojecting; lug e6-of the cam 4-5, and these pins Will consequently movethe cam 45 forward through the agency of the lug d6.

' As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the apparatus is completely inclosed bya sheet metal housing comprised of the side Walls 81 and 6.2, the frontand rear Walls 63 and 8%, the bottom Wall 65, and the top plate 10.Further, the opening in the conical member 66 is closed by the receiver70 and the spray from the spray nozzle 63 is directed toward the coilswhich are to be sprayed through the small opening in the bottom 85 ofthe inclosing chamber, as shown in Fig. 5. This bottom wall is equippedwith a circular opening which is normally closed by the movable gate 86which is held in place by the thumb screws 87 and 88. The gate 86'provides an opening through which the apparatus in the inclosure may beinspected and adjusted. FZ'hen the sprayer is in operation the conicalmember 66, which serves to collect the surplus spraying fluid, becomescompletely covered with said fluid after it has been in operation for aperiod of several hours and when thus coated it is removed by unscr wingthe member 66, error Which it is removed through the n the lowerinclosing wall 85, and a clean conical member 66 is put into place byscrewing itinto the receiver mounting templet 67. By frequently changingthe conical member 66 the surplus lacquer is confined to the innersurface of said member and all possibility of its overflowing into theoperating members of the apparatus is avoided. The lacquer deposited onthis surface is easily removed with a knife after it has dried.

With the apparatus all inclosed between the sheet metal walls, ashereinbefore described, the lacquer fumes will he confined in theinclosing chamber from which they are drawn through the exhaust duct 90to the open air outside of the room by means of an exhaust fan connectedin said duct.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows The motor 25 is firststarted which, through the gears 24 and 30 and the shaft 18 and itsassociated gear 17,,will rotate the annular gear 16 which will carrywith it the revolving cylinder 13 and the associated conical member (56,the receiver templet 67, and the receiver containing the coils 71 whichare to be sprayed. The annular gear 16 will in turn drive the gear wheel26 which rotates the worm 30 and its associated worm wheel 31. The spraynozzle 63 is then adjusted so that the ejected spray will hit the coilarea to be sprayed at an angle and at a point near the periphery of sucharea. The conveyer system is then started, and as each of the carryingplates approaches the spraying apparatus, the pin will strike the lugs6, on the cam surface 45, and rotate said cam l5 about the shaft 32until the lug 46 has been pushed out of the path of the pin 80. The cam45 in turning will be depressed by the roller 50 as it rides out of thedepression 48 on to the upper face of said cam surface, and the teeth llof the upper clutch member, secured to said cam surface, will engage theteeth 40 of the lower clutch member. The teeth 40 and 41 of the clutchfaces will be held in contact by the cam roller 50, due to the forceexerted by the spring as long as said roller rides on the upper face ofthe cam surface 47, and consequently said cam will be driven by the wormthrough said clutch for a complete revolution of the cam, or, in otherwords, until the cam wheel 50 again rides in the depression 48. Duringthe period thatthe cam 45 is depressed the lower surface thereof willride on the valve button 60 which will admit air to the spray nozzle 63,thereby causing the ejection of a spray of lacquer from said nozzle tothe coil area which is to be coated. Further, since the spraying nozzle(33 has been so adjusted that the spray ejected therefrom will hit thearea to be sprayed at an angle and near its periphery and since thecylinder 13 'is rotating, the

spray from the nozzle will completely cover the entire peripheral areathat is to be coated when the cylinder 13 has made one completerotation. The annular gear 16 and the gear wheel 26 are so proportionedthat the cylinder 13 will make seven complete turns to each rotation ofthe cam 45. Consequently the lacquer will be projected from the sprayingnozzle 63 to the surface to be sprayed for seven complete rotationsthereof, after which the spray will be automatically cut off by theoperation of the valve button 60, due to the return of the cam wheel 50to the depression 48 of the cam surface 47. Qbviously the numberof-turns that the article to be coated should receive will be varied inaccordance with the shape of the article to be sprayed and the thicknessof the coating desired.

The plate 75 of the conveyer mechanism is so placed that the pin 80 willstrike the lug 46 of the cam $5 at such intervals as to allow theefiicieut spraying of the receiver coils, the removal of the receiverfrom the templet 67, and the placing of another receiver thereon by theoperator. Whenever it is desired to start the spray when no conveyersystem is used the cam 45 can be manually turned by the operator untilthe cam wheel 50 moves out of the depression 48.

The use of this apparatus results in a very even and uniform coating ofthe spraying fluid because the various elements controlling theapplication of said coating, such as the period during which the sprayis operated and the length of time that the spray is applied to eachparticular portion of the area to be sprayed, is automaticallycontrolled. In addition to the evenand uniform coating thus obtained,the fumes are confined and exhausted to the open air and the roomatmosphere in which the spraying is done is not contaminated with theobjectionable spraying fumes. Such results are exceedingly advantageousand are practically dependent upon the automatic control of the sprayingapparatus.

Although this invention has been described in detail in the foregoingin' connection with an apparatus for spraying receiver coils, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to this specificembodiment but is capable of many modifications and variations to meetconditions imposed by the shape, size, or other characteristics of thearticle that is to be sprayed without departing from its spirit andscope. What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising in combination, anarticle hold- ,ing means, said article having a limited irregular planesurface to be sprayed, means to rotate said means, a pneumatic sprayingmeans, means to operate said spraying means, and means to apply andconfine a in coating of fini hing fluid to said unit surface of saidarticle as is rotated.

2. A device of the character described comprising in combination, anarticle holding means, said article having a limited in regular planesurface to be sprayed, means to rotate said means, a pneumatic sprayingmeans, means to operate said spraying means, means to apply and confinea coating of finishing fluid to said limited surface or said article asit is rotated, an inclosure for said means whereby the fluid fumes areconfined, and anezzhausting means to draw said fumes from saidinclosure.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with anarticle holding means, said article having a limited irregular planesurface to be sprayed, of means to rotate said means, and a fluidspraying means adjusted to direct its spray upwardly so that theprojected spray will strike said surface at an angle and at a point nearthe outer periphery of said surface whereby all the irregularities insaid surface to be covered will receive a smooth even coating of thespraying iluid.

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with anarticle holding means, said article having a limited irregular planesurface to be sprayed, of means to rotate said means, a fluid sprayingmeans, means automatically controlled to supply fluid to said sprayingmeans for definite prescribed intervals, means automatically controlledto supply fluid to said spraying; means for a definite prescribed numberof rotations of said holdingmeans, and means whereby an even, uniformcoating of the spraying fluid is applied to the limited surface only ofsaid article.

5. in a device of the character described, the combination with a fumeconfining casing or receptacle, of a rotatable article carrying meansmounted thereon, an article having a limited irregular plane surface tobe sprayed, a fluid spraying means, means to supply fluid to saidspraying means, automatically controlled means whereby fluid is suppliedto said spraying means for a prescribed number oi rotations of saidcarry ing means, means applying condin ing coating or id to said limitedsurface, and exhausting means to carry oil the fumes from said casing.

6. In a device for spraying receiver cores, the combination with arotatable means, of means for mounting said receiver core on said means,a conical shaped member fitted with an opening adjacent said receiverhaving an area substantially equal to the receiver area that is to becoated, and a spraying means adjusted to supply the spraying -fluidthrough said conical member to the area to be sprayed at an anglethereto and at a point located at a substantial distance outside of thecenter of rotation of the area to be sprayed.

'3. ln a device for spraying receiver cores, the combination with areceiver mounting means, of means for rotating said mounting means, aspraying means adjusted so that the spray projected therefrom willstrike the receiver at an angle and at a point at a substantial distanceoutside the center of rotation of the area to be sprayed and meanswhereby an even coating of the spraying fluid will be applied to alimited surface of said receiver area,

8. in a device of the character described, the combination with a fumeconfining receptacle, of a rotatable article carrying means mountedtherein, a iluid spraying ineansniounted without said receptacle andoperated to project a spray through an opening in said receptacle to thearticle to be sprayed, said article covering a second opening in saidreceptacle through which the spray passes to the article area to besprayed, and an exhaust means to carry oh the spray-- ing tomescollected in said receptacle.

9. The process of coating articles'with' filllSlllllg fiulds whichconsists in rotating the article to be coated and then applying thefinishing fluid from a spraying nozzle permanently fixed and so adjustedwith respect to the rotated article that the fluid will be directlyprojected upwardly against the outer periphery of a limited area of thearticle which area includes the center of rotation of said article.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe name this 13th day of Nov. A.D, 1916,

